the way she wears it

Last night I had an intimate drinks night at my studio. Most of my friends hadn’t been there yet and my mum was in town from London so what more of an excuse could I need. My boyfriends mum and step mum also attended which was great. As per usual I totally over catered. Highlights were cupcakes from My Little Cupcake and the wine from Di Lusso – including small bottles of Prosseco with straws. When in Mudgee recently I fell in love with this vineyard. Luckily there is a cellar door in Glebe too. If you ever go, make sure you ask for Roberto – the guy is a godsend. Few piccies below.

The Guest of Honour – my mum !!

Had some great news today. A shoot I did with photographer, Claire Letitia Reynolds, is to be published by Cream Magazine, an Australian mag I love.

Yesterday I shot with photographer Kent Mathews as a submission for 125 magazine. Kent has featured in the last few issues of 125 so fingers (and toes) crossed it gets placed. The shoot was set at North Bondi and lets just say we all got a tad wet – check out the photos.

Team:

Photographer: Kent Mathews

Photographer’s assistant: Dean

MUA: Amanda Ramsay

Model: Amy @ Chic

My assistant: The fabulous Elise

God, it is a task I absolutely hate. Luckily this time I had my agent Mari to do the hard part – choosing. I just did the order. Is any creative ever satisfied with their book? Probably not, or why would we bother to keep pushing ourselves.

Getting it all sorted and laid out in order.

Yesterday I had the fortune to work with Rae Morris on an advertising shoot recently. Rae is considered one of Australia’s top make up artists, if not THE best. I remember seeing her work many years ago when I was an assistant and thinking one day I would love to work with her – and now I have. She has just launched a new book Make Up – The Ultimate Guide. I haven’t had a chance to purchase it yet but I will. All photography is by Stephen Chee (a photographer I would love to work with also) and features a few models I have worked with. What amazed me most about Rae was how lovely and down to earth she is. This is her, Nigel and assistants sorting out her kit – and what an amazing (and massive) kit it is.

So, I have moved into a new studio/work space in Surry Hills on Marlborough Street. It is the building known as the Tsubi building as they take up the ground floor. The space is fantastic and I couldn’t be happier there. Lots of great companies like Fuzzy (Musical festivals), Agent25, Lemonsoup and labels like Sabatini. I have a feeling it is going to be a fun place to work !! (Excuse the mess, but hell, it is never going to be tidy)

I’m back. And boy have things changed. Well, first up, I have fallen head over heels with a very gorgeous man and as a result I am living back in Sydney. (I must admit we all suspected it would happen since meeting Darryn at a friends wedding earlier last year) The holiday I took in October to see him extended to December, then to January and then he convinced me to stay for good. I gave him a three month trial and he passed with flying colours (well pretty much). I also scored myself a fabulous new agent and it seemed like I couldn’t argue with fate and so I stayed.

I’ve now been back in Sydney for a few months and know I have made the right choice. At least I hope so because I bought a new “soccer mum” car (well new to me anyway) and signed a 2 year lease on a fabulous work space in Surry Hills. I miss my London friends, my London family, my London flat, London weather (yes yes I know, I’m odd) and London shopping. Oh how much I miss London shopping. I don’t however miss the tube, not one little bit.

The agent I signed with is Mari Vendrame Management www.vendrame.com and so far so good. Mari is an amazing woman, as is Francis, her right hand lady. They have some fabulous people on their books (hello, Patrick Demarchelier, Markus Kinko and famed local photographer Anna Bertalli) and I feel honoured to be amongst them. I am still finding my feet with them and am busy shooting whilst running around on go sees.

I won’t rattle on too much about each job I’ve done so far but like I said so good so far. I’ve done all sorts, from editorial to advertising.

* go sees are where creatives such as photographer, stylist, MUA etc show their book and meet art directors, magazine editors, photographic agents etc in the hope of working with them in the future.

I’m off to Sydney tomorrow to spend some time out with friends and a gorgeous new man so will post when I am back (in December).

Yesterday I shot with one of London’s best photographers Tony McGee. I have shot with him once before for his book on Ballet and loved his work. I have been waiting a while to shoot with him again. He shoots regularly for Vogue, Harpers etc and many advertising campaigns. The model we used was Diana T from Storm, she has just shot with Patrick Demarchelier for British Vogue. The brief I was given was the latest Valentino campaign. I decided to go with metallics. But as I did my appointments on Wednesday I fell in love with a lilac Julien Macdonald dress and changed the story slighty to accomodate but as luck would have it we had to cut the looks from 8 to 6 due to time so I did metallic only. I quickly convinced my favourite photographer, Keith Clouston, to shoot on Saturday so I’ve built a whole new story around the lilac dress – yay

Lilac dress by Julien Macdonald. I want !!

Anyway yesterdays shoot was fantastic. Nat assisted me which was amusing. The make up artist and hair stylist were also Australian which made for a good laugh. I’ve attached a few behind the scene photos below.

Shoes glorious shoes …

The Guisseppe Zanotti handbag I fell in love with

There are only two professions in this world where we spent most of the time on our knees – and one of them is a stylist.

Me getting in the way of Pete, the hair stylist.

On set – The final shot and the Christian Dior dress that I could barely lift for the weight of jewels.

I turned 27 today. Yay !! I have had a fantastic weekend. Started off with a bit of shopping with Mum and Nat. Mum bought me the most beautiful Matthew Williamson purple coat.

New coat and mum – shame it is so blurred.

Then Friday night Mum treated me and five of my girlfriends (inc Mum) to High Tea at The Savoy Hotel, followed by Fiddler on the Roof at The Savoy Theatre. The performance was absolutely amazing, the lead in it was incredible. After the play, Mum, Nat, Bel and I headed to The Artesian Bar at The Langham Hotel. THANK YOU MUM, It was such an amazing night x

Then last night, Sal and I had joint drinks at the Chepstow Pub in Notting Hill. Lots of people came, including the parentals. I got far too drunk due to people constantly buying me drinks but it was a fun night. Loads of photos were taken so Ill only put a few up.

Today, my actual birthday, I was woken at 530am with a call from a very sexy boy in Oz which made my day and then was jumped on by Nat waking me up with a pressie. Nat and Ali took me out for lunch and on to see ‘No Reservations’ at the cinema. Fantastic movie, even if it has made me even more clucky – eek, must be cos Im a year older now.

Was a great birthday !! I got so many beautiful presents and cards. My two favourite cards were from Darryn and Belinda (see below). Birthday pressie highlight was two Elton John concert tickets for when I’m in Sydney from Mum and Richard – cant wait !!

THANK YOU EVERYONE for all the cards, pressies, phone calls, texts and facebook comments xx

Tuesday 18th September 2007

Today was the probably the worst fashion week day I’ve ever attended. Im not being snobby or a princess but the parties were pretty rubbish. The best of the bunch was however the Yes Master lingerie party at Crystal. I went with Nic, James, Cat, Jack, Juliet and I took my school friend Nat along. There were no free drinks as promised and an extremely expensive bar list – 36000 pound bottle of champagne amongst it. The show however was pretty good, 6 Burlesque dancers including Little Bo Peep (whom I thought would make the ultimate girlfriend for Darryn or should I say Lamb). There were also several lingerie and swimwear shows.

We left that party and headed to the Plastique magazine party – this was being heralded as one of the best parties of the week – we didnt even go in. The queue was unbelievable, even on the VIP list. I’ve had more fun in a rugby scrum so we hot footed it to the War magazine party – highlight of the night was singing Abba in the taxi – much to the annoyance of James. Thought we had finally found a good party at Studio Valbonne but an hour after we got there the free bar tab ran out – this is Fashion week people – why oh why was it such a dry night?? After an hours sober dancing Nat and I called it quits and headed home – ran into Hannah Marshall on the way out and was tempted to stay but thought otherwise. Should have done, an hour later James called to say they had headed back to the first party where Shaggy and Jamelia were now performing and the bar had finally opened. Bugger, but pj’s, salt and vinegar chips and Nat sufficed.